75 



1541 was another year of lemarkable drought. The river Trent diminished 

 to a straggling brook; many thousands died from diarrhoea and dysentry, and 

 much cattle also from want of water. 



1556.-The springs failed this year. Wheat rose from 8s. to 53s. per qr. 



159L-An uncommon drought in spring in the midland counties. The Trent 

 and other rivers nearly without water. The Thames also could be crossed on 

 horseback at London Bridge. 



1592.— Similar season. 



1G14 -After a great flood in early spring, drought continued till 

 August, causing great scarcity of hay and com. Hay 86s. a load at Leeds. 



1615,-Great drought throughout Europe. 



1C16 _« A great drought at Nottingham, by reason of which the country 

 would not afford provisions for Sir Thomas Hutchinson's stables (father of Col. 

 Hutchinson, who was boin this year), so that he was forced to remove from 

 O^thorpe to winter in the town of Nottingham."-^™. Lucy Hutchmson. 



1630.— Very dry summer. 



1652.— Driest ever known in Scotland, and very warm. 



1661.— Derwent crossed dryshod. 



1681.— Very dry in Lancashire. 



1697._Very dry in Essex. Eainfall in year, 15 '5 in. 



1702.— Dry spring and hot summer. 



1704 and 1705.— Only about half the average annual fall of rain. 



1714,-Probably the driest year of later times. Only 11 2 inches of rain 

 at Upminster, Essex, for the year. 



1715 and I716.-The Thames at London Bridge during a violent gale 

 emptied to a brook 10 or 12 feet over, and people walked on the bottom and 

 found treasures there. 



1723.— Very dry year. 



1725.-Drier than ever known from middle January to middle April ; then 



very wet till August 27th. 



1737 —June 21st, a great drought in west of England. 



1738.-In Yorkshire and Rutland, and probably in the neighbouring 

 counties, from August till September 7th. 



1740.— Only 1.90 in rain first four months ; for the whole year, 173. 



174L— Great drought February to May inclusive ; for the whole year, 15 1. 



1742.— Great drought whole year, 17 "3 in. 



1743.— Ditto ditto 161 in. 



1747,_ The rivers lower than ever known in Scotland. 



1748 -Rainfall, Lyndon, Rutland, 17 "2. This year the orchards and oak 

 trees were as bare of leaf as at Christmas. Great swarms of locusts August 

 4th and 5th in London streets, three times the size of grasshoppers. 



1749.— Another very dry year. 



1750. -Ditto ditto The first three weeks in July the hottest 



